The Voice - Match preview Gillingham vs Bradford City Tuesday 28th February 2023 @ 7:45pm

I think Walker just gives us so much more going forward.
I thought he was excellent tonight.

 

Just reading some Gillingham forum gems:

Our keeper is dodgy (LMAO)
They think they were set up negatively - but the fact they have been positive is the only reason we were able to exploit them on the counter! Unreal reading of the game lol
Overly critical of the defender that had his pants pulled down by Cook - that wasn't a mistake, it was just top drawer stuff from a lad on absolute top form!

Funny how everyone interprets things differently, but I think all three of these points are fundamentally wrong!

 

Just been reading their board and two posters seem to think our defense and goalkeeper are poor? Yet they never really challenged us and if we didn't tire, another day could have been 0-5. To be fair to Gillingham, they're missing a few players but there's a reason they're near the bottom. Good win for us and dominant performance

 

He nicks from the left,
He nicks from the right,
That Andy Cook
He'll make you look sh1te.

 

He was great for 45 minutes but in that second half it was like we had a different referee. He was shocking

 

Neighbouring Rochester ain't much better

 

Lewis didn't have his best game. In the first half his kicking was initially poor and on corners he flapped/slapped/mis-punched a couple. It wasnt his best showing and I can see why they'd say he didn't show up well but equally they didn't work him much aside from the corners.

 

Like Wright before him, Stubbs is turning into that 'what the frig do we need him for' into player of the half season material.

Just what we needed now we've got some characters and a total of 21 points from 11 matches with 12 from 15 is showing.

Proper promotion race - for a refreshing change!!

 

I'm a big Cook fan but the way our defenders dealt with the balls into the box they have to be up there and Halliday never stopped going forward and putting some decent crosses into the box, the kid Costelloe ran the channels very well and Walker is looking better and better with every game, Smallwood and Clayton had good games very difficult call on the night IMO.

 

Their problem was their better players in Lapslie and O'Brien didn't show up and Hawkins didn't get any change out of our defenders. Lapslie's late and frustrated yellow card was a good example of how he never got into the game.

Our continued pressure on them gave them very little breathing space and we just kept at it all the time. It will be a good lesson from them in terms of the levels Harris needs to get them to and he clearly didn't go there to twiddle his thumbs. Other, lower table teams probably gave them more space and time.

 

I thought we matched them at their own game but we constantly won the second ball and pushed forward. When they had the ball, we pressed very well and every player put 100% in

 

Hilarious. Our defence is the fourth meanest in the division (and likely to be third meanest shortly, the way Stevenage are shipping goals recently). We've conceded two goals and kept four clean sheets in our last five away games. But they reckon our two CBs and keeper are poor! Bizarre. I thought we looked very comfortable at the back tonight. Stubbs has been a superb signing - had Hawkins in his pocket all night, despite the height difference.

 

Bit of a dilemma coming up with critchlow returning to full fitness. From looking at being one of the players of the season, he may struggle to get back in anytime soon.

In a backwards sort of way I actually feel we have benefited from his absence. Him not being in the backline, and being comfortable on the ball as actually meant we have had to get it forward quicker (even if it's only as far as midfield) which as suited us a lot better

 

If only it had worked like that against Barrow

I'd say the sooner we get Crichlow back for the home games, the better.

He's better on the ball than Stubbs, and infinitely better than Platt.

 

Cheers @Stafford Bantam just watch in back and it brought a rye smile to my face, for the first goal Smallwood (not renowned for his heading ability) completely looses the full back who after he heads us in front looks around as if to say who's picking him up.
As for Cook goal if their number 5 Ehmer had put more effort into putting the ball in row Z rather than trying to be a fancy Dan and usher it out of play for a throwing then chasing the referee around to tell him it had gone out of play he would have done all he should have done .

 

It's a great option being able to switch to a back three, as we did tonight. I think that could be a starting option at home, allowing us to get the fullbacks higher up the pitch, against packed defences, to get balls into Cook.

 

100%, our most complete performance under Hughes to date. About time we played well for 90 minutes after having played well for only half of games in the most part this season.

 

Are you “Mr Hand Job” in Morley?

 

Yes on a par with Southend . Been several times.